INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Grace's softball team was outmatched by the defending Crossroads League champs on Tuesday.

The Lady Lancers (15-15, 6-6 CL) lost on the road to No. 20 Marian, falling 7-1 and 9-5 in a doubleheader.

The Knights (20-6, 12-2 CL) scored a single run in each of the first three innings of the opener to claim a 3-0 lead. Chandler Elliott helped open the scoring for Grace in the fourth inning when her double brought in Clarissa Knight.

Grace had a runner in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings, but each time the Lady Lancers were unable to produce a run-scoring swing to keep the score 3-1.

Marian made Grace pay with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth, plating all four runners with two outs in the inning. Grace was retired 1-2-3 in the seventh to end the opener.

In the second game, the Lady Lancers earned their first lead of the day in the opening inning. Knight doubled with two outs, and Elliott drove her in for a 1-0 lead.

Marian answered with a three-run homer in the bottom of the first, and the Knights never trailed again.

Emily Bobb led off the third inning with a single and then she stole second base. After moving to third on a ground ball, she scampered home off the bat of Abby Mozingo.

The Knights again had the answer, plating two runs with the benefit of a Grace throwing error to make the score 5-2. Marian's cushion grew to 9-2 when the Knights scored four runs in the fifth inning—all scored with two outs against them.

Bobb's strong day continued when she drove in two runs off a single with the bases loaded in the sixth. Knight then drew a bases-loaded walk to cut Marian's margin to 9-5. But with three runners on the bases, Grace flew out to end the rally.

The seventh inning seemed promising for Grace as the squad loaded the bases with one out thanks to a walk and two singles. But Grace's chance was squandered as the next two batters were retired with a fly out and a ground out to end the game.

Next up, the Lady Lancers will travel to Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Friday and Taylor on Saturday.